3 Mar 2013

In December 2012, reports from a variety of sources suggested that Liverpool were lining up a £12m (€14.7m) deal for Japanese star Keisuke Honda. Nothing came of the interest, but with the summer transfer window only a few months away, the Reds are reportedly keen on tying up a pre-contract deal for the exciting CSKA Moscow attacker.

Honda has been linked with a move to Anfield several times over the past three years, and according to one report yesterday, Liverpool want to 'thrash out a pre-contract deal' with the attacker over a summer switch to Anfield', and the club plans to 'sound out Honda for talks in the next few weeks'.

Speaking to reporters this week, CSKA Director Roman Babaev conceded that the Japanese maestro is on his way out of the club. He confessed:

"We tried to get him [Honda] to extend his contract, but we can’t force him. It is up to him what happens next"

After losing out on the move to Lazio in January 2012, Honda - nicknamed 'Keizer Keisuke' (Emperor Keisuke) during his time in Holland, made clear his disappointment at the collpase of the deal. He told reporters:

"If moaning about it would get me a move I would have a moan. I waited until the end of the transfer window and I could have gone to the Italian championship. I was hoping for a better future"

"Honda can decide the result of a match on his own, but unfortunately games like that with a performance from him haven’t happened. Today we expected a certain contribution from him, but it never came"

€12m-rated Honda may be out of form but he's still managed to score 9 goals in 20 games for CSKA this season, which is a creditable return for a player whose heart is clearly not with CSKA anymore.

Arsene Wenger is a huge fan of Honda, and he lavished praised on the player after the 2010 World Cup. He raved:

"When they get the ball they can give it to Honda – and the magic starts. When they get that genius Honda playing up front, he had shown what a top class player he is. For me he’s the best performer of the competition so far"

It's clear that Honda needs to a new challenge to reinvigorate his career, but would he be a good fit for Liverpool?

With 29 goals in his last 101 games, he is hardly prolific, and there are other attacking midfielders out there with a much better creative return for a similar amount of money.

Having said that, I would love to see Honda at Anfield - he's an experienced flair player, and Liverpool can always use more of them. Plus, he'd be available on a free.

All you ever talk about is should we buy this that player,criticizing whenever you got the chance,picking someone's comments and make a debate out of it,i think you are one sick miserable anti liverpool fan JK.

He'd be a quality signing plus the money liverpool would make from the shirt sales etc in Japan would justify it by itself,the fact that hes a quality player just make it an even better reason to sign him

ABSOLUTELY wonderful player. the fans will adore him. definately world-class and can change games on his own. if he was excited about going to lazio just imagine if we went for him. we need to tie this deal up as soon as possible. always wanted him and it looks like my dream is coming true. get in there BR. YNWA

On a free, why not? I'm sure (although I don't think Japan is a market to rival China, South Korea or Thailand) he'd pay back a chunk of any fee we pay him through shirt sales etc.

I'm not sure he has the pace to be a top player (or is sufficiently technical to make up for his relative lack of pace) but he'd give us an option. Between him, Coutinho and Downing, we should be able to get a decent return and turn out a balanced side. That would let us spend on getting the defence in order.

Also, if it doesn't work out, I feel as though his re-sale value would be reasonably high.

As much as I like Shelvey and what he could potentially turn into, I think signing Honda then going for Eriksen to fill the hole which Shelvey was supposed to fill would be great transfer business.

If our young players aren't fulfilling their potential quickly enough to help the team progress and start challenging at the top of the table, then they should be sold with "Barcelona-esque" clauses - e.g. 50% sell on fees, ridiculously low buy back fees and such like. That way, if they do turn out really good (Tom Ince), we can either bring them back or profit further from subsequent sales.

Funny this topic should arise as I was thinking of Honda just the other day. He was a hot property coming out of WC '10 and it really surprised me that he never moved to a bigger league or club. For me it does raise a few questions as to why that is. I've barely seen him play, I'll stipulate that, but it just makes me a little cautious. LFC has been so hamper by bad transfer dealings the last few years that now every move made is that much more important. Getting him on a free would be great but we must be sure of the player!

I saw the same rumour too. TBH I hope it goes through, for his age his close control isn't that good, range of passing not that great, not particularly fast. Strengths passion, decent body strength, sort of has an eye for a goal.His technical ability lets him down big time!

Honda would be a fantastic signing. Good skill, good attitude, good commercial value in regards to shirt sales. I said so when he was at VVV and of course was ridiculed because he was "only" in the Dutch league. It would be like Stewart Downing with actual skill.